Teresa Giudice Will Continue Working to Set a "Good Example" for Daughters

Teresa and Joe Giudice have been spending time with their family as they await their October trial date.
Credit: Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images

Teresa Giudice is, before anything else, a mom. The Real Housewives of New Jersey star may be going through some very public financial trials and tribulations with husband Joe Giudice in recent weeks, but the reality star is not planning on going into hiding anytime soon.

"I'm not going to stop working. Now I'm in it and I'm going to work until who knows when," she told Entertainment Tonight during her book signing on Wednesday, Aug. 14 -- the same day as her second court hearing. "The good thing about working [is] it's a good example to show to my daughters. Mommy's a businesswoman, and hopefully they'll follow in my footsteps."

Giudice, 41, and husband Joe, 43, are parents to four young daughters, including Gia, 13, Gabriella, 10, Milania, 7, and Audriana, 3.

The reality star added that the book signing (for her new cookbook, Fabulicious!-On-the-Grill: Teresa's Smoking Hot Backyard Recipes) was scheduled long in advance, and she didn't feel the need to reschedule.

"It was so weird," she said. "When I heard my court date was Aug. 14, I was like gosh, I know I have something on Aug. 14 -- and it was my book signing. And of course I wasn't going to cancel, there's no need to cancel."

Earlier that day, Joe and Teresa looked somber as they appeared in federal court in New Jersey, where they pleaded not guilty to a 39-count indictment that included everything from mail and wire fraud to bank and bankruptcy fraud.

"They vehemently deny their guilt," Joe's lawyer, Miles Feinstein, addressed the courtroom. "There's an assumption of innocence and they vehemently assert their innocence."

Feinstein also told the room that he and the rest of the legal team had advised the Giudices to live life as per usual between court proceedings.

"We have told them to continue life as they've lived it," he said, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger. "They have a family, they have to support themselves … they shouldn't imprison themselves at this time."